Onward: Grand Quest

Chapter 7

Barley arrives first at the castle and makes his way up the stairs of the tower. He is determined to confront Brimstone with his current knowledge and hopefully talk him into stopping searching for the hero's treasure. As he walks up the steps the broken piece of armor over his chest begins to sting again. "This area is reacting again. I wonder if it has something to do with this place?"

He encounters no minions or enemies and by the time he reaches the top where the door is he wonders if he is even in the right place. He is about to open the door when it opens itself. "Alright... spooky self opening door." he mumbles.

Barley carefully takes a step inside scoping out the room. "Ok it's not exactly what I was expecting." His eyes catch the blinking barrier where Cinda is now standing staring right at him. "Cinda!"

"Barley no! You need to leave!?" she yells.

Barley says excitedly. "I am in the right spot!" He rushed away from the door towards her prison but part way over he stops when Brimstone appears from behind a pillar. "Brimstone! I brought what you asked for! Let her go!"

Brimstone chuckles. "Did you really think I would fold so easily when everything i've ever wanted is nearly in my grasp?"

Barley looks at Cinda. "Don't worry I'll figure something out."

She looks at him helplessly. "It was a trap all along. You should have just ran away with the sword."

"If he hadn't come here on his own I'd have sent my statues to fetch him." Brimstone says with a smirk as right at that moment a screech sounds from not far away outside. "Sounds like they are nearly home."

"Statues?" Barley mumbles. "Ian!"

The statues enter the castle tower through the hole they had exited from. Ian dangled from the jaws of the one as it stepped into the room.

"LET MY BROTHER GO!?" Barley snarls with an angry gaze at Brimstone. "He isn't part of this."

"I disagree." Brimstone replies, patting the beast on the head. He wrenched Ian's staff from his grip and tossed it across the room. Then the beast dropped Ian on the ground and Brimstone picked him up by the arm. "Welcome to the party." he chuckled. He shoved Ian towards Barley.

Ian scrambled to keep his footing. "I got caught looking for the diamond. We tried to fight them off but nothing we did seemed to work."

"Living statues only have one real weakness." Barley mumbles. "Any cracks would also be a weak point but mostly the only weakness is in the eyes."

Brimstone steps over and opens up his hand. "Give me the sword."

"Don't do it Barley!" Cinda yells.

Ian steps between his brother and the dark wizard. "Brimstone. You have to see reason. I know Linda's uncle is still in there. The treasure isn't what you think." Ian says.

"Shut up you." Brimstone waves his hand flinging Ian across the room.

"Brother!?" Barley steps one step towards Ian and is grabbed by Brimstone. "Hey! Hands off!" he yanks away, still holding the sword.

At this point Corey and Linda arrive and can be seen peeking inside through the hole in the wall the statues had made. Trying to keep their element of surprise but they also want to know what they are up against.

"Won't give it up willingly hm?" Brimstone chuckles, that's alright I have many ways to make you. He raised his hand towards Barley.

Barley winced as he was sure that Brimstone was about to inflict some kind of pain on him but after a moment he realized the pain had never occurred. Purple mist swirled all around him but it didn't seem to be doing anything. He paused and looked around confused. "Wait, I thought you were going to hurt me?"